FY2026 HIV Funding: White House Budget Request
- A proposed budget includes significant cuts to domestic HIV programs, raising concerns about the future of the "Ending the HIV epidemic" (EHE) initiative.
- These cuts could severely impact efforts to address HIV at a time when Congress is considering other health policy changes that could effect access to care and prevention...
- The budget shifts funding and priorities, moving key programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and Health Center Programs to a new "Administration for Healthy America" (AHA).
The White House’s FY2026 budget request proposes deep cuts to domestic HIV programs, possibly jeopardizing the “Ending the HIV Epidemic” initiative. This includes a drastic 35% reduction, equating to $1.5 billion less in funding compared to FY2025. programs like those run by the CDC, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and HOPWA face severe cuts or complete elimination.These changes could impede access to care and prevention services. NIH’s HIV research may also experience significant reductions. News directory 3 breaks down these critical changes. Discover how these budget shifts might reshape the fight against HIV in the coming years.
HIV funding cuts threaten “Ending the Epidemic” initiative
A proposed budget includes significant cuts to domestic HIV programs, raising concerns about the future of the “Ending the HIV epidemic” (EHE) initiative. While the budget request retains some funding for EHE, a closer look reveals a potential $1.5 billion (35%) decline in overall domestic HIV program funding compared to fiscal year 2025 levels.
These cuts could severely impact efforts to address HIV at a time when Congress is considering other health policy changes that could effect access to care and prevention services for people with, and at risk for, HIV.
The budget shifts funding and priorities, moving key programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and Health Center Programs to a new “Administration for Healthy America” (AHA). The AHA is expected to prioritize prevention, including HIV/AIDS. However, funding for domestic HIV prevention at the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would be eliminated, and programs like Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) and parts of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) would also be cut.
The CDC,which has historically accounted for 91% of federal funding for domestic HIV prevention,would see its HIV prevention funds completely eliminated.This represents a $794 million decrease (78%) over the fiscal year 2025 level,including EHE funding.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a critical safety net for HIV care and treatment, would receive $2.5 billion, a $74 million (3%) decrease.This reduction is attributed to the elimination of funding for Part F of the program, which includes AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs), dental programs, and some aspects of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI).
The department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOPWA program, which provides housing assistance to low-income people with HIV, would be eliminated entirely.In fiscal year 2025, HOPWA was funded at $505 million.
Significant cuts are also proposed for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the national Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest source of HIV research funding. NIAID would be cut by $2.4 billion (36%). While the exact impact on domestic HIV research is not yet known, in fiscal year 2025, it was $2.7 billion. The administration has also reportedly decided not to renew core NIH-funded HIV vaccine research.
The status of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) is unclear,but funding for MAI activities at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is eliminated. In fiscal year 2025, SAMHSA received $119 million for the MAI.